Following in the Footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King

By Hubert Williams Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts -- Finally, I have followed in the footsteps of one of America's greatest patriots of modern times, the civil rights martyr Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, and have stayed at the imposing seafront residence where he was accommodated during visits to this celebrated vacation centre in the US northeast.

"Villa Nova" at the junction of Sea View Avenue and Narragansette Avenue,

Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard, on the shore of Nantucket Sound "Villa Rosa" is, to my eyes, the most imposing and distinguishable residence directly fronting the sea on the Oak Bluffs coast, half a mile from the Terminal where vessels dock - especially the large ferries after their 40-minute crossing from Woods Hole on the Massachusetts coast.

There is a plaque (photo above) at the main entrance to "Villa Rosa" attesting to role of this residence in American civil rights history, noting that it had served as the "summer White House" for the movement, and listing Dr. King and other distinguished American Blacks who stayed there when on the Vineyard.

The plaque says in full:

“African American Heritage Trail of Martha's Vineyard: " I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know

that we as a people will get to the Promised Land. And I'm happy tonight. I'm not worried about anything." Dr. Martin Luther King 1968.

"This house served as the summer White House for the Leaders of the Civil Rights Movement who stayed here as guests of the Overton Family. A house of love and tranquility,

it provided solace and inspiration for those who worked tirelessly for Justice and Freedom.

“Guests included Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Mr. Adam Clayton Powell Jr, Joe Louis, Harry Belefonte.

Villa Rosa owned by the Zila Family – 2004.” (The singer's name is usually spelt 'Belafonte)

Richard "Yom" Bolling, 60, the current "Villa Rosa" Caretaker, has a special relationship

with the house within the walls of which he said he often played as a boy, for his family lived at the house 'next door', another large 19th century property of which they have retained proprietorship.

Yom remarked to me about "Villa Rosa": "This is not merely just another house... another residence. This is a home of love... a place of inspiration... and it is not without significance that your family, which is

demonstrating so much love, has been drawn to spend this week within its beautiful surroundings".

Yom, himself seemingly deeply spiritual, relates interesting stories about the environment of peace, tranquility and love within the walls of Villa Rosa, which is reported to have been constructed sometime in the 1870s and he believes there was Divine guidance that brought Dr. King and other Civil Rights leaders and influential Blacks of that period to have council within its walls.

He also believes there was Divine intervention to guide the course of the current owner Valerie Mosley towards the acquisition of "Villa Rosa", when already she had committed towards the purchase of another property on the island. (Valerie Mosley is Chairwoman of Valmo Ventures,

which creates, collaborates and invests in companies,

assets, and efforts that have significant potential to

grow, profit and add value to society. Prior to Valmo

Ventures, Valerie was Partner, Senior Vice-President

and Investment Strategist at Wellington Management

Company, LLP, an $800 billion global money

management firm.)

Yom apart, and regardless of whatever unseen forces are at work within this large and beautiful home, it is joyful to be here - even if only for a

week - and to tread along the pathways where such distinguished footsteps have trod before.

It is pleasing to be here on vacation in this remarkable home with close-knit family and friends – adults, teenagers, and some pre-10s - promoting familiarity among family and friends, the bonding of generations and the strengthening of understanding.

These annual 'get-togethers' away from the hustle and bustle of 'everyday life' and in the serenity of this holiday mecca in the northeast provide a great opportunity also for those who so can to counsel and to guide, or just to have open discussions and debates with teens who may be entering their final year of high school and considering the right pick for college, or are already college-bound.

And for the much younger children, it is a period of observation of acceptable behaviours and repeated demonstration of family values.

Thus it is that these annual Martha's Vineyard getaways are more than merely vacations. These youngsters must not simply follow in footsteps; they must push the

Family’s bar ever upwards. As my generation exceeded the achievements of our parents, and as our children have evidently gone beyond our levels, so must theirs seek to achieve, excel and create new testing targets for their own offspring,

and to society’s advantage.

Despite all of the other interesting activities and the many discussion sessions, their main Martha’s 2012 Project was to interview, individually, all of the adults (family members and friends) about their lives and present a video-graphic production. This was done to the assembled household on the night before departure.

It was a highly interesting presentation (for their questioning had been bold and probing). However, more than that were their answers when shortly afterwards they were questioned by the subjects in their video about what they had learned during the week – about themselves, about interacting with the adults, about discipline, time management, their aspirations in education and what careers attracted them.

Therefore, being here together again with specific targets of visits, observation, conversation, counseling and enjoyment would seem compensation enough, but almost always there is a coincidence between our family’s visit and the Vineyard vacation of President Barack Obama and his family, though we’ve never seen

them.

As I comfortably took my steps in the paths once trod by Dr. King and other illustrious American sons and daughters, and confidently prepared for dinner and later bed, there was recollection of last summer’s adventure at another very large but less well-cared home just about 200 metres away, where, for some yet unexplained reason, I captured an apparition in my camera and, as mysteriously, was later that night

unceremoniously tumbled out of my bed.

I have had many responses to the report on the 2011 visit and the unique photograph which I distributed, but among the most interesting was one which said I might well go down in history as the first person ever to have photographed a ghost (photo repeated below). I have as yet had no credible explanation as to the phenomenon.